DOWN TO EARTH

Roberta Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut and a renowned photographer. These are her favourite images of Canada.

Roberta Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut and a renowned photographer. These are her favourite images of Canada.

WWHEN ROBERTA BONDAR went into space in 1992, becoming the first Canadian woman to see Earth while orbiting through the thermosphere, she was captivated by the planet’s contoured horizon. Twenty-five years later, that fascination lives on through her photography, which often plays with the line between land and sky. She first started experimenting with cameras as a child in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and her photography, like most of her life’s work, balances both art and science, curiosity and creativity. “It’s fuelled by a good sense of self,” she says, “and a sense that you’re creating something different and important.” Each photo is a labour of love, not to mention time. In an era where smartphone cameras are ubiquitous and constantly clicking, Bondar is a champion of thoughtful composition and unique perspectives. It may seem difficult to find a more unique perspective than Space Shuttle Discovery, but Bondar wants to zoom in on the details of our planet, creating a collection of images that emulate the terrestrial patterns she spied from far above. With four photography books to her name (and a fifth on the way), she now donates many of her pictures to her eponymous charity foundation, which aims to address society’s growing nature deficit. “I’m looking at this larger issue and trying to simplify it,” she says. “It’s all about making our environment more accessible to everyone.” These photos are her intimate portraits of Canada.